The Town Files

Ashe County, North Carolina

26,950 people. The median home is worth $243,100 (typical North Carolina town: $228,900) and the median household earns $56,866.

Towns in Ashe County

Towns in Ashe County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Jefferson1,622$236,000$40,59041.6
West Jefferson1,279$232,400$46,82743.4

People and housing

Ashe CountyTypical North Carolina town
Median home value$243,100$228,900
Median rent$859$969
Median household income$56,866$60,458
Median age49.841.1
Bachelor's degree or higher25.9%24.5%
Below the poverty line13.5%14.3%

Jobs and pay

7,486 jobs in 2024, average pay $48,252 a year.

Largest industries in Ashe CountyRetail1,198 jobs · $31,124Health care & social assistan…1,081 jobs · $47,998Manufacturing838 jobs · $54,165Construction801 jobs · $71,583Hotels & restaurants721 jobs · $19,754Wholesale trade479 jobs · $78,362
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Ashe County0%4%8%12%2000200420082012201620202023 3%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 587 storm events in Ashe County from 1996 to 2026, with 3 deaths.

Storm events in Ashe County by type since 1996Hail86Flood20Drought28High Wind149Ice Storm11Heavy Rain22Heavy Snow44Debris Flow6Flash Flood70Winter Storm47
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Ashe County has been included in 26 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
January 24, 2026Winter StormEM-3637: Severe Winter Storm
September 28, 2024Tropical StormDR-4827: Tropical Storm Helene
September 26, 2024Tropical StormEM-3617: Hurricane Helene
October 1, 2022HurricaneEM-3586: Hurricane Ian
September 8, 2021HurricaneDR-4617: Remnants Of Tropical Storm Fred
March 3, 2021Severe StormDR-4588: Tropical Storm Eta
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).